Queen Camilla has revealed that she no longer rides horses, admitting she feels "too old" to continue the pastime she once shared with the late Queen Elizabeth II. During a state visit to Germany with King Charles, she told schoolchildren in Hamburg: "I used to have horses I rode but sadly I don’t ride any longer."
Despite giving up riding, the Queen Consort remains deeply involved with her horses. She watched a video of one of her foals being born while on the trip, calling it "very exciting." She has taken over the day-to-day running of the late Queen's stables, maintaining relationships with trainers and overseeing operations.
John Warren, the late Queen’s bloodstock and racing advisor, noted that Camilla, not King Charles, has the greatest passion for horses. "He owns a few horses himself, in particular with the Duchess of Cornwall. She is absolutely besotted by racing," Warren said.
Camilla was "very sorry" to miss the 40th anniversary celebration of the British Racing School at Newmarket last month due to poor weather. She is also associated with equestrian charities including the Ebony Horse Club, the British Equestrian Federation and the Brooke Hospital for Animals.
Reflecting on her childhood, Camilla described herself as a "pony-mad child" who adored the story of Black Beauty. She also listed gardening, reading and swimming in the sea as her current hobbies.
